Hello Everyone,
All is well here in Tanzania as most of the team arrived late last night after some very long flights. It was a short and uneventful ride to our Lodge that is tucked in between Arusha and Moshi and not so far from the base of Kilimanjaro. The team had a quick but delicious dinner and headed for bed as the jet lag is in full effect. Thankfully all our bags and essential gear made it too.
Today we had our first official team meeting after breakfast. We did a round of introductions and then discussed the program for the coming days ahead, along with a review of all the necessary gear.
We spent the second half of the day getting our gear organized, packing up, and exploring the grounds of our Lodge, as it’s an incredibly peaceful lodge with monkeys and Dik Dik roaming the grounds. The weather was nice today and we even managed to see Kili off in the distance.
We finished the evening with another delicious meal and enjoyable conversations and are now off to bed to get a good nights rest before heading to Kilimanjaro bright and early tomorrow morning.
RMI Guide Casey Grom
Wow! What an adventure of a lifetime! Wishing Darla, Lauren and the entire team a safe climb and return home. You go girls!!! Can’t wait to see your pictures!
Posted by: Bill & Paula Thompson on 1/25/2018 at 7:02 pm
Wishing my beautiful wife Darla and my beautiful daughter Lauren the best of luck of a fun-filled adventure love you guys .
Good afternoon from Gokyo.
What a day we had! We woke up early to cloudy skies, which made us doubtful of the views we might get on our hike. But as we started gaining elevation and covering the distance between our lodge by the lake, and Cho Oyu Base Camp, we punched through the layer that was coveting the valley. The Himalayan giants we saw from the distance yesterday, towered above us today, and walking along the lateral moraine of the Ngozumba Glacier (the longest in the area) was really something. The feeling of being so insignificant overwhelmed us as much as the beauty we were discovering. We did reach the vicinity of what has been Cho Oyu's Base Camp on the south side for the less than half a dozen expeditions that have dared to attempt this impressive face. After lunch and pictures, we turned back penetrating into the cloud layer that still was covering the valley bellow. We're now enjoying dinner and getting ready for tomorrow's stage.
RMI Guide Elías de Andres Martos
After a full day of travel, the team has made it to Cheget. We enjoyed our time in Moscow, but it always feels good to be in the mountains. The air is crisp, and the rivers are swollen. From the hotel we can see multiple hanging glaciers, and from town we can easily see the East summit of Elbrus.
We've got a few things to take care of here over the coming days, but it won't be long until we're living life up in the hills!
RMI Guide JM Gorum
Hello, this is RMI Guide Jenny Konway calling in from the low camp on Mount Shuksan here with the Shuksan Seminar. We had a great morning of training today out in the fog. It cleared up a little bit, and we saw some blue sky. This afternoon we attempted to go out and have some additional training, but got some heavy rain so we all retreated to our tents and had a good dinner. We are tucked in for the evening, hoping that the clouds we'll part in the morning and have a shot at the summit. So we're keeping our fingers crossed for nice weather. That's it for now. Thanks for following along. Have a good night.
RMI Guide Jenny Konway
RMI Guide Jenny Konway called in from the Mount Shuksan Seminar.
Cold morning when we pulled out of our camp at 7 a.m. Not 30 minutes later did the sun start to warm our fingers and toes along with illuminating the glaciers of Salkantay while we climbed towards Incachiriaska Pass at 16,010ft.
The team is doing great after our seven-hour day. After the pass we walked through a beautiful valley filled with dry grasses and expansive boulder fields. We are camped in a small village (read 3-4 stone houses with thatch roofs) listening to the bleating of sheep and watching dogs heard the mix of horse, llama, sheep and pigs back to rustic stone corrals. We are settling into our tents and getting warm as the sun has already left our valley at 3 p.m. Tomorrow our horseman will depart the group as we enter the National Park. Porters will join us to continue the excellent meals and difficult but much appreciated job of carrying our camp towards Machu Picchu.
RMI Guide Mike King
Well... This is it. The final blog for the July 1 - 13, 2016 is sadly here. However, as is the case, we had an amazing day in Saint Petersburg! Our local city tour guide Elena, was amazing as we strolled around the entire city. I have been here 13 times now and today was simply put, the coolest tour I have had in St Petes. I am sad as I sit here writing this blog during our last dinner. Our entire team has been absolutely amazing. It is not every climb where complete strangers come together and have such an amazing adventure.
Thank you for following along. The team sends giant hugs and kisses back home to friends and family! Thanks for your support.
RMI Guide JJ Justman
June 25, 2016 - 10:33 pm PT
We walked away from camp around 6 A.M. bound for 17 Camp. Unlike the sweltering afternoons when we watched lines of ants move up and down the fixed lines from camp, the chilly mornings tend to keep people in their tents. This morning's early departure made us the only team around. We cruised up the fixed lines, past Washburn's Thumb, along a stunning ridge line all the way to our cache at 17,000' Camp. Our crew of rock stars crushed it! Many members of our team said that today was the best day of mountain climbing they've ever had- fun movement, epic views, great company. We returned to 14,000' Camp around 5 P.M. in high spirits but plumb tuckered. After a hearty meal everyone retreated to their tents quickly. We all look forward to sleeping in tomorrow- not only is it a rest day, but it's the day that Pepper Dee was brought into this world. Things have never been the same since.
RMI Guide Mike Haugen
Posted by: David B Clemmons on 6/27/2016 at 7:17 pm
this is Hannah’s mom, Lisa. Happy birthday Pepper! What an exciting place to celebrate another year!
My love to y’all from sweaty hot Memphis, TN where the heat index has been 105 for 5 days. Looking at your blog photos of snow and ice help to cool me down.
Good luck with your summitting and watch yer top notch.
Lisa
June 22, 2016 - 12:17 a.m. P.D.T.
The final RMI Expeditions Denali trip of 2016 is kicking off. The team assembled in Anchorage today, with a few reunions and a few introductions, and made the traditional pilgrimage to Talkeetna. Bill, our Denali Overland driver, got the van out of the Anchorage rush hour traffic and out onto the open road with big views of the Chugach foothills and the Talkeetna Mountains. After a last stop for provisions in Wasilla, we cruised on up to epic views of the Alaska Range itself just before pulling into Talkeetna. We settled our climbing gear at the airplane hangar and checked in to the venerable Talkeetna Motel. Some of the team ventured out to sample local beer and appetizers, some went straight to the mattresses after long days of prep and travel. We'll dial down on pre-climb details tomorrow morning...Tonight it was unwind and get settled in the land of the midnight sun.
Best Regards,
RMI Guide Dave Hahn
Best of luck Team 8, everyone from Texas to Grand Cayman is cheering for y’all and we’ll be watching as you make your way to the top! Safe climbing and enjoy the ride David Schnautz, love ya long time!
Posted by: Sondra Schnautz on 6/23/2016 at 7:29 pm
KirkMan - Proud of you Bro! Miss you already!
Posted by: Charles Holliman on 6/23/2016 at 2:51 pm
The Mt. Rainier Summit Climbs, led by JJ Justman and Mike King, reported a nice day with light wind, clear skies, and warm weather from the crater this morning. Both teams had a leisurely break after topping out at Columbia Crest. They left the crater to begin their decent just before 7:30am.
Thank you JotaJota for your great organization and energy. And stories (true or not).
Thank you Gloria for your friendliness and ability to calm nerves.
Thank you Casey for pulling me up the hill.
Posted by: Sandra McIntire on 6/5/2016 at 3:32 pm
Happy Birthday Ben. We wish you a great day on top of the world! Love, Mom & Dad
Hello from Kilimanjaro!
Today the team woke to mostly clear skies, but the clouds in the distance told us we shouldn't linger long. So after a nice breakfast with fresh fruits and scrambled eggs we hit the trail headed uphill. We climbed up the rocky ridge that leads to the Shira Plateau making good time, stopping only to take breaks and let the endless line of porters pass as they easily made their way up with their loads carefully balanced their heads. It is astonishing how easy they made it look!
Our gracious crew had sprinted ahead to have camp waiting for us and it was a welcome site after hiking for just over 4 hours. We arrived in time for a hot lunch and thankfully, just before those clouds started to sprinkle on us.
Everyone is doing great, especially since we are all warm and dry in our camp.
RMI Guide Casey Grom and Crew
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Wow! What an adventure of a lifetime! Wishing Darla, Lauren and the entire team a safe climb and return home. You go girls!!! Can’t wait to see your pictures!
Posted by: Bill & Paula Thompson on 1/25/2018 at 7:02 pm
Wishing my beautiful wife Darla and my beautiful daughter Lauren the best of luck of a fun-filled adventure love you guys .
Posted by: Ron Seehafer on 1/23/2018 at 11:16 am
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